How Managed Care Works

In a managed care system, the overall concern is for the bottom line. The insurance company contracts with certain dentists and closely controls the costs of the work these dentist perform.

Some plans have penalties for dentists who refer patients to specialists, or who perform too many procedures!

The concept behind managed care is cost containment. The focus has shifted from the patient's to the bottom line, and patients lose the freedom to choose their own dentists.

If you join a dental managed care plan (DMO), the dentist you are assigned to or you select will be your primary dentist. Very often I have been asked by patients to help them select from their lists, as they have no choice but to leave. I let them know that there are no names on the list that I would trust with my family's care, and as a consequence, I could be held liable for making that referral.

Very often, what should be performed by a specialist is performed by your primary care dentist so as to avoid the financial penalty imposed by the insurance company for referrals. If you require more information on this topic please contact New Jersey dentist office The Centre For Dentistry featuring Dr. Markus and his dental team.